With April marking Autism Awareness Month, nonprofit organization Joshua’s Gift is collaborating with the Fremont Police Department to launch CODE JOSHUA, a new alert and registry system that aids first responders with calls regarding individuals with autism and intellectual development disabilities (IDD).
Founded in 2017, Joshua’s Gift was created by husband and wife Kerry Rich and Mizpah Brown-Rich. Their son, Kasten Joshua Rich, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age two. Mizpah shares, “We didn’t know yet how deeply it would shape our lives. We only knew this was our little boy who was so pure, bright and full of unfiltered love.” After taking time to process the diagnosis, Kerry confidently told Mizpah that their son was a gift. Raising an autistic child did not come without its challenges, but Joshua and his parents remained resilient.
“We wanted to be able to take families out on social excursions without them having any hesitation or reservations.”
Mizpah Brown-Rich, Joshua’s Gift cofounder
This led to the creation of Joshua’s Gift, whose goal is to make it less challenging for families with autistic children to go out in public and be part of society. Maintaining a routine with an autistic child is often impossible and can feel discouraging. Mizpah says, “We wanted to be able to take families out on social excursions without them having any hesitation or reservations.”
Joshua’s Gift hosts events in spaces that are mindful of autistic triggers—for example including sensory rooms for potential sensory overload. In April 2025, the nonprofit invited 60 families to a Golden State Warriors basketball game at the Chase Center. Events like these are a few of the many that Joshua’s Gift holds to advocate for the autistic community. The upcoming project of CODE JOSHUA is the nonprofit’s exciting next step to ensure safety and inclusion.
Created and housed by Joshua’s Gift, CODE JOSHUA is an alert system and registry that the Fremont Police Department (FPD) will integrate into its dispatch and patrol operations. This month alone, 175 families are anticipated to register. The goal is to assist first responders in safely managing calls concerning individuals with autism and IDD, minimizing potential misunderstandings or harm.
During CODE JOSHUA’s development, the FPD reviewed their calls for service of missing autistic juveniles and adults. They discovered that half of them involved non-verbal autistic community members. This further emphasized the need for CODE JOSHUA.
“For families like us, one of our greatest fears is that someone calls the police during one of our child’s sensory meltdowns, a misunderstanding occurs, and that leads to something tragic.”
Mizpah Brown-Rich, Joshua’s Gift cofounder
In 2024, Joshua’s Gift generously held a large training event at the Chase Center for law enforcement agencies on how to handle autistic community members. FPD’s Lieutenant Calvin Tang explains, “What’s unique about this training is that Joshua’s Gift has the officer or command staff member interact with the autistic community. To be able to get that hands-on experience and direct interaction time has been phenomenal.”
The registry is a voluntary process. Families can submit helpful details about their autistic loved ones, including behavioral patterns, communication styles, triggers, calming techniques, medical needs and emergency contacts. Waivers must be signed prior to submission. This information is then entered into a local database monitored by Joshua’s Gift. FPD can view these profiles and utilize them to build rapport and create a safe environment.
Joshua’s Gift and the FPD also held a community town hall meeting to address privacy concerns. Lieutenant Tang says, “We wanted to be transparent and allay any fears people may have. Having stewards like Mizpah and Kerry as the custodians of records furthers that trust for folks who may be worried. We’re very confident in the information being secure. It allows us to have a more qualitative approach.”
CODE JOSHUA seeks to reassure the autistic community. Mizpah shares, “For families like us, one of our greatest fears is that someone calls the police during one of our child’s sensory meltdowns, a misunderstanding occurs, and that leads to something tragic. Having the training in conjunction with the emergency alert system is vital because the last thing we want is for an officer to interpret the behavior as non-compliant or aggressive.”
Every autistic individual has unique needs and Joshua’s Gift prioritizes this. Kerry adds, “The goal for CODE JOSHUA is to build this bridge between law enforcement and the community based on education, awareness and shared humanity. We want the autism community to feel safe and for law enforcement to feel like they have great tools in their toolbox.”
CODE JOSHUA is not only advocacy but a labor of love. Caring for an autistic individual is an ongoing journey that requires deep care, patience and flexibility. Joshua, who is now 23, continues to live life with the same light and resilience he has exuded since childhood, thriving with his committed parents. Mizpah says, “CODE JOSHUA is more than a label. It’s a living tribute to our son.”
To learn more about CODE JOSHUA and Joshua’s Gift, visit joshuasgift.org.
